Tony Johor Kaki Travels for Food · Heritage · Culture · History

Food Explorer Storyteller with 63 million+ reads 📧 johorkaki@gmail.com

Thai Style Curry Bee Hoon · Khanom Jeen Saphan Hin in Phuket

Khanom_Jeen_Saphan_Hin_Phuket

Our Thai host brought us to Khanom Jeen Saphan Hin in Phuket for lunch. Before this, I had no idea at all what is khanom jeen. Turned out that I fell totally in love with this traditional Thai dish and now look out for it whenever I have Thai food. Khanom jeen reminds me of the Tamil putu mayam but eaten with many different types of Thai style curries. When you are in Phuket, you may want to check out Khanom Jeen Saphan Hin.

Restaurant name: Khanom Jeen Saphan Hin ขนมจีนสะพานหิน


Address: 66/2 Phuket Rd, Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand


Tel: +66 83 175 5571


Hours: 8:30am - 7:00pm

Tasty Thai Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Old Phuket Town · Ding Li Ji Fan 丁立鸡饭 ติงลี่ข้าวมันไก่

Chicken_Rice_Old_Phuket_Town_Ding_Li_Ji_Fan_丁立鸡饭_ติงลี่ข้าวมันไก่

During my Thailand trip, one of the things I was looking out for was Thai style Hainanese chicken rice (known as khao man gai in Thai). While doing the obligatory Old Phuket Town walk, we stumbled Ding Li Ji Fan 丁立鸡饭 ติงลี่ข้าวมันไก่ chicken rice shop. Ding Li Ji Fan is one of the prettiest chicken rice shops that I have ever come across and where I became a Thai chicken rice convert - of all places, in a tourist hotspot 🤭

Restaurant name: Ding Li Ji Fan 丁立鸡饭 ติงลี่ข้าวมันไก่


Address: 51 Thalang Road, Tambon Talat Yai, เมือง Phuket 83000, Thailand


Tel: +66 83 915 6516  +66 63 662-8291


Hours: 7:00am - 3:00pm (Mon off)

Best Moments in Phuket, Khao Lak, Bangkok · Day by Day Itinerary

Phang-Nga_Bay

I am in Phuket, Khao Lak, and Bangkok for a week. This is my first trip by air out of Singapore since the borders reopened (post-Covid). In this post, I will share as much detail as possible on my personal experiences and observations about procedures, peoples, places, and the food I encounter during the trip.

Canadian Ginseng Bak Kut Teh Recipe 加拿大西洋参肉骨茶

Canadian_Ginseng_Bak_Kut_Teh_Recipe_加拿大西洋参肉骨茶

I eat a simple ginseng bak kut teh at least once a month for the health benefits of ginseng. My favourite cut of pork rib is known in Singapore as 龍骨 or "dragon bone". I like to cook it with fresh Canadian ginseng for its mellow sweet and unique ginseng taste.

Chef Charlie's Special Oxtail Stew @ Weng Kiang Kee Porridge in Chinatown Complex

Oxtail_Stew_Weng_Kiang_Kee_Porridge_Chinatown_Complex

Chef Charlie of Weng Kiang Kee Porridge jio-ed (invited) me for oxtail stew and beer. I was a little tired having just returned from a road trip to Kuala Lumpur but always enjoyed chef Charlie's food and company of our makan kakis (buddies).

Stall name: Weng Kiang Kee Porridge


Address: 335 Smith Street, stall #02-082, Singapore 050335 (Chinatown Complex Food Centre level 2)


Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinatown station


Tel: 9850 3529


Hours: 7:30am - 1:00pm (Mon & Tues off)

Best Coffee in Singapore Chinatown Complex · Tai Hwa Coffee Stall #02-152 Red Zone 大華茶室

Tai_Hwa_Coffee_Stall_大華茶室

This kopi C kosong has a smooth, round body and robust coffee flavour balanced with evaporated milk sweetness. Feels, tastes and smells like those local (Nanyang) coffee made with espresso machines but is actually made the traditional way with a kopi sock. At $1.20 a cup, it is a bargain at today's prices (Apr 2022).

Stall name: Tai Hwa Coffee Stall 大華茶室


Address: 335 Smith Street, stall #02-152, Singapore 050335 (Chinatown Complex Food Centre)


Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinatown station


Hours: 8:30am - 8:00pm (close at 3pm on Tues, 6pm on Weds | Thurs off)

Good Breakfast in Seremban @ Coffee Tiam Foo's Cooking • Special Yong Tau Foo 傅帮煮

Seremban_Coffee_Tiam_Foo's_Cooking_傅帮煮

For my drive back to JB / Singapore from Kuala Lumpur, I usually set off early to avoid the traffic build up in KL. Actually, I won't even have breakfast in KL but stopover in Seremban instead. During my last trip, we stumbled upon a nice breakfast place known as Coffee Tiam Foo's Cooking 傅帮煮 at 389A, Jalan Temiang.

Restaurant name: Coffee Tiam Foo's Cooking 傅帮煮


Address: 389A, Jalan Temiang, 70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia


Tel: +6010 761 9366


Hours: 7:00am - 3:00pm

Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam · Retro Hip in KL Chinatown 何九海南茶店

Ho_Kow_KL_Chinatown_何九海南茶店

This was my first time back in KL, one of my favourite foodie cities, after more than 3 years(?) as the borders were closed for over 2 years due to Covid-19. I am looking for new places to eat as well as revisit my old favourites. When we asked locals where can we find a good Hainanese coffee, we were pointed to Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam 何九海南茶店. We like this place and think that if you are visiting KL, Ho Kow is one place you are need to check in at.

Restaurant name: Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam 何九海南茶店


Address: 1, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur


Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Pasar Seni station


Tel: 03 2856 8287


Hours: 7:30am - 3:00pm (Mon off)

Singapore Hawker Culture · Singapore as Asia's Kitchen

Singapore_River

I am standing here at the spot at Singapore River where Sir Stamford Raffles landed in 1819. This spot was a village with the Temenggong's house just steps away. Across the river was a swamp with a small fish market. The first market in modern Singapore history.

55 Chai Chee Shen Ji Teochew Kway Teow Fishball Noodle For Supper in the East · Menu & Review

55_Chai_Chee_Shen_Ji_Teochew_Kway_Teow_Fishball_Noodle

I was chatting with chef Eric Chua about what makes a good bowl of "dry" noodles and we decided on a spur of the moment to go to Shen Ji at block 55, Chai Chee Drive - one of chef's favourite noodle places. His enthusiasm and description of the old school "tah mee" noodles were enough to make me lau nua drool.

Stall name: Shen Ji Teochew Kway Teow Fishball Noodle Soup


Address: Block 55, Chai Chee Drive, #01-190, Singapore 460055


Nearest MRT: Take bus 26, 222, 222A from Bedok station


Tel: 6406 3539


Hours: 7:00am - 2:00am

JB Travel Tips from First Post-Covid Trip by Johor Kaki on 7 Apr 2022

JB_Travel_Tips_Post-Covid

I did a day trip to Johor Bahru yesterday, my first since returning from JB in Mar 2020. It was a sort of dry run before my longer trips soon. Sharing my experience here for your reference.

Fatt Soon Kueh · Handmade Traditional Teochew Steamed Snacks 发笋粿

Fatt_Soon_Kueh

Every time I am at 209 Kovan hawker centre, there is a queue at Fatt Soon Kueh. Why do so many people want to eat Fatt soon kueh?

Stall name: Fatt Soon Kueh (Kovan outlet)


Address: 209 Hougang Street 21, stall #01-17, Singapore 530209 (209 Kovan Market & Food Centre)


Nearest MRT: Kovan station


Hours: 7:00am - 6:00pm (Mon off)

51 Kovan Ming Fa Wanton Mee · Fulfilling A Promise 明發雲吞面

51_Kovan_Ming_Fa_Wanton_Mee_明發雲吞面

There are 3 or 4 wanton mee stalls at 209 Kovan hawker centre - the top two popular stalls are 51 Ming Fa WTM and Yi Shi Jia WTM. Maybe it was my luck - when I am in Kovan, 51 Ming Fa was always closed. So, I only blogged about Yi Shi Jia last year.

51_Kovan_Ming_Fa_Wanton_Mee_明發雲吞面

Ben How commented on Facebook that I must have taken money 💰 to blog about Yi Shi Jia WTM but not Ming Fa 🤦 
哎哟,冤枉啊大人 😔  Aiyoh, I am innocent 😓 I promised Ben How that I will visit Ming Fa and post my review.

51 Ming Fa wanton mee continued to be elusive until I finally caught them opened this morning (nearly one year later).

Stall name: 51 Kovan Market Ming Fa Wanton Egg Noodle 明發雲吞面


Address: 209 Hougang Street 21, Singapore 530209 (stall #01-64 inside 209 Kovan Market & Food Centre)


Nearest MRT: Kovan station


Hours: 7:00am - 1:00pm (Mon & Tues) hours may change